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Chapter 79
He saw him approach them waving the piece of paper they had been waiting for. He smiled at him and he returned the gesture. It had been long since they spoke to one another, exactly 15 days since the AID BOSTON fund-raising event. When he came close enough, they got into a warm mutual hug before he handed over the paper to him.There were tears of gratitude brimming in Naina's father's eyes when they handed him the restraining order signed by the judge. He pulled Sharan into a tight hug as he thanked him. He placed his hand on his shoulder and said "God bless you, beta."
He was still talking to Aditya, Rohan and Naina's father when he got distracted when he heard her voice. He looked in her direction and let out a silent sigh. He missed her...a lot. He had called her twice since that day, since they had gotten together. But she had been in the middle of making out with Rohan both times...and then later on she had forgotten to return his call. He waited and waited...hours had become days and she had not returned his call. After that, he had stopped calling her.
He quickly looked away before he fell into a gazing spell... but Aditya noticed it. It was incredible how he had picked up on it, specially since this was the first time he had met him. He didn't say anything though. He didn't know him enough to make a judgment on him, but he gave him the benefit of doubt.
When she saw him, she remembered the two times she had missed his call and guilt immediately reflected in her eyes. They had been friends, and close friends. But it seemed she had forgotten and neglected everyone else around her when she was with Rohan...Simran, Mira, Sharan and everyone else she considered close. Rohan had become the focus point of her life. Everything she did was either for him or about him.
She quickly realized she needed to balance it out, that she needn't make one person her entire world...that she needed to interact with others too. And the same applied to him too. He too needed some balance in his life. Since they had started dating, they were all about each other, forgetting the rest of the world...which could turn unhealthy. She decided she would have to talk to him before it got out of their hands.
While she was still pondering over the changes in her life, he looked at her again and saw her looking in his direction. There was a brief moment of awkwardness for her from being caught staring at him, but she quickly masked it with a smile. He smiled back. She started walking towards him and so did he. They got into a hug and started speaking at the same time, interrupting one another. They laughed at that.
After the initial exchanges of how are you's and how's everything's and after she had asked for each of his family members individually, she apologized for not being able to answer his calls. Just then, Rohan came by their side. Instead of his usual 'you still have not seen maine pyaar kiya' dialogue, he teased her "It's okay. I know you are busy now." He said those words to her, but he winked at Rohan...and he winked back, a huge smile adorning his face. She too looked away smiling, feeling both shy and embarrassed at the same time. He had that kinda power...the one to make people smile even amidst glumness...
As he made to go, Rohan stopped him. "Don't you want to meet Naina before you go?"
"I want to, but not now. There are enough people waiting for her to open her eyes. And I don't want her to feel uncomfortable around a stranger in such a situation." he spoke peeking into her room.
"You are not a stranger. And besides, I bet she would want to meet you after she comes to know how you helped her." he said placing his hand on his shoulder.
He turned around to face him then and saw gratitude in his eyes and before he knew it, he was pulled into yet another hug. "Thanks man."
"No problem." he said when they pulled apart. "And by the way, you do know that you can call me when a girl is not in trouble, right?" his tone came out teasingly.
"Get out of here..." Rohan replied with a grin feeling all embarrassed, leaving Keerti all confused. And he complied...he left after bidding goodbye to Naina's father.
When he left, Keerti asked him "What did he mean by that?"
He didn't try to hide it. He answered her honestly "When you saw Naina come out of my apartment that morning and ran from there, I called him after I could not get through your phone. I knew he would be the only person who you could lean on."
She held his hand tightly to make do instead of a kiss. Her eyes welled up as she wondered how much more she had yet to discover about his help and concern towards her.
Book Talk
Aami Daakini
193